WB government action on DA protesters : No meetings permitted during work hours

In response to the ongoing movement of government employees demanding Dearness Allowance (DA) in West Bengal, the Mamata Banerjee-led state government has issued a decree outlining stringent measures to ensure discipline and timely attendance in government offices. The announcement comes as some employee organizations have called for a pen-down strike on May 22, which may disrupt public services.

The new guidelines, as stated in the official notification, stipulate that no meetings or processions can be conducted during tiffin time, which has been fixed between 1:30 pm and 2:00 pm. Furthermore, employees are expected to arrive at the office on time and leave at the scheduled hour. Leaving the office premises before the designated time will be considered as absenteeism.

The order explicitly states that employees may not leave the office without permission from their respective office heads, with the aim of ensuring punctuality and avoiding additional disturbances during working hours.

The state government emphasizes that the period between 1:30 pm and 2:00 pm is strictly reserved for tiffin time and no work should be undertaken during this period. The adherence to these rules will be closely monitored, and any violations will be treated as absenteeism.

Considering the pen-down program scheduled for May 22, the government has warned of potential consequences for employees who fail to comply with their duties as per the law. The statement explicitly states that no casual leave (CL) will be granted on that day unless a family member is seriously ill and hospitalized.

The decree further outlines that employees who had already taken maternity leave before May 19 will still be eligible for the leave. However, during the designated tiffin break, employees will not be permitted to leave the office premises. This measure is intended to ensure that workers do not face any false accusations or unnecessary complications.

The guidelines have been issued by the State Finance Department, primarily to instill discipline among government employees. The government asserts that these regulations will not impede the functioning of government offices. It should be noted that the pen-down program, organized by government employee organizations and forums to demand the payment of DA dues, has prompted political circles to interpret this move by the government as a strong message compelling employees to report to work on Monday.